Side light can be difficult to get to grips with, but there are ways to use this direction of light to create images with huge impact.

There is impact aplenty with this weeks top 10 for the second challenge of Empower, On the Side.

Huge congratulations to the photographers who made it this week, what an incredible, emotive and inspiring set of images.

Charlotte & Craig 🐶 📸 ✨

Chantal Levesque | Chantal Levesque Photo

The light has been effectively used here to highlight the dog against the darker background. We wondered about the story, coming up with different interpretations, which is the sign of highly effective, thought-provoking visual storytelling.

Christel Wellens | Fotografie Christel Wellens

This image gave us all the feels! The storytelling is so well executed, through the use of dramatic light as well as the dog's pose. Just beautiful.

Diane Gollowitzer | Dogs in Focus Photography

In this stunning black-on-black studio image, the main light provides subtle lighting coming from the side to highlight the texture of the dog's fur and provides a perfect catchlight.

Jeff Rooney | Hightail It Photography

We love to see a unique take on a classic theme, and this black and white sidelit studio shot gives us a unique perspective on these three dogs, leaving us wondering about their relationship and the story within.

Jenny Stokes | Smooches and Pooches Photography

This image is a great example of how to break the rules of composition, effectively! The negative space has been left on the "wrong" side, but somehow it feels so right. The lighting is just perfect too.

Kim Hawkins 

A beautifully executed image, the viewer is led on a journey around the image through the use of strong leading lines and framing, with the strong sidelight perfectly highlighting the subject.

Lindsay Baca | Lindsay Baca Photography

We loved the quirkiness of this image! The other-worldly appearance of the trees is juxtaposed with the bold appearance of the Dalmatian, and the light draws attention to the subject and creates bold shadows that act as leading lines.

Nancy Paynter

This studio image uses side light to highlight the unique pose of the subject, with excellent separation from the background created through additional lights, and a perfect catchlight.

Rebecca Williams | Rebecca Williams Photographer

Effective storytelling in this image sets the scene of a working dog during a moment of rest, with directional light giving the impression of the dog's view out to the world. The black and white treatment accentuates the documentary feel.

Sarah Jones | Mucky Pup Photography

The harsh sidelight here is used to great effect to set the scene, telling the story of man's best friend waiting patiently. The light skims beautifully over the subject and highlights the blue eye to great effect.

Are you ready to transform your pet photography in just 6 months?

The Unleashed Challenges are a series of 3 interactive challenge based courses, Embark, Emerge and Empower. Each one with 12 challenges running over 6 months. 

Much more than just a challenge, Then Unleashed challenges are an invaluable educational resource that will help you build up a go-to list of shots to help create variety in your work. Designed for anyone to be able to complete whether you just want to photograph your own dog or you are a professional pet photographer.

If you'd like to know more head over here to register your interest and we'll send you all the details. Embark and Emerge are currently open for enrolment, with Emerge beginning on April 1 2024 and Embark on May 1 2024.